How to pay for a tube in London?

You can pay as you go using contactless (card or device), an Oyster card or a Visitor Oyster card. It also offers great value as pay as you go is cheaper than buying single tickets and you get daily and weekly capping.

How do you pay to ride the tube in London?

Can I tap my credit card on the London Underground?

If your bank card shows the contactless payment symbol, you can use it to pay as you go straight away. You'll pay an adult rate fare. Many contactless cards issued outside the UK can be used to pay as you go for travel.

Can I use a debit card instead of an Oyster card?

You can use a contactless-enabled bank card to pay for travel on the Tube, bus, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, and most National Rail services within London: Similar to the Visitor Oyster card, it automatically caps your daily spending depending on the zones you travel in and how frequently you travel.

How to purchase tickets for the tube in London?

At Oyster Ticket Stops in many newsagents in London (7 Day and Monthly Travelcards) At ticket machines at Tube, London Overground, most Elizabeth line and National Rail stations (7 Day and Monthly Travelcards) At Visitor Centres (All Visitor Centres sell 7 Day and Monthly Travelcards.

HOW TO PAY FOR LONDON UNDERGROUND // Oyster vs Contactless Card

Is it cheaper to buy a tube ticket or use contactless?

Using contactless (card or device) or an Oyster card to pay as you go is the easiest way to travel. You only pay for the journeys you make and it's cheaper than buying paper tickets (train companies may offer special deals on some journeys).

How do tourists use the tube in London?

The easiest and cheapest way to travel on the London Underground is by using pay as you go, with a Visitor Oyster card, Oyster card, Travelcard or contactless payment card. A Visitor Oyster card can be sent to your home address before you arrive in London.

Can two people use the same contactless card on the tube?

2.4 Only one person at a time can use the same contactless card or device for travel.

How do you use contactless on the tube?

Pay as you go with contactless

If your bank card shows the contactless payment symbol, you can use it to pay as you go. Always use the same device or contactless card to touch in and out to pay the right fare. For example, don't touch in with your iPhone and touch out with your Apple Watch or contactless card.

What happens if you don't tap your card on the tube?

If you don't touch in and out, we cannot tell where you've travelled from or to, so your journey will be incomplete. As we cannot work out the right fare for your journey, we'll charge you a maximum fare.

Can tourists use contactless in London?

Pay as you go (paying only for the journeys you make) is the easiest way to pay for travel in London. You don't have to work out the cost of your journey in advance. You can pay as you go using contactless (card or device), an Oyster card or a Visitor Oyster card.

What happens if you tap in and don't tap out?

If you don't touch in and out, we can't tell where you've travelled from or to. This means your journey will be incomplete and you will be charged the maximum fare.

Can you buy single tickets for London Underground?

You can buy single and return tickets from: Ticket machines at Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail stations. Ticket offices at London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail stations.

Is it cheaper to pay by card or Oyster?

If you have a Railcard or other discount, it may be cheaper to use your Oyster or Smartcard as you cannot apply a discount to pay as you go with contactless. However, you can travel further beyond London using pay as you go with contactless than you can with an Oyster card.

How many people don't pay for the tube?

Across the Tube, Overground, buses, DLR, and Elizabeth line, 3.4 per cent of people using the service did not pay the fare over the last financial year – a small drop from 3.8 per cent in 2023/24. While 4.7 per cent skip paying the fare on the Tube, according to TfL data from 2024/25.

How many times can you tap contactless in a day?

You can use a contactless card as many times as you like within a day so long as each purchase is under £100. Just bear in mind that you may be asked to use chip and PIN after using contactless a few times in a row. Don't worry, it's just an extra security measure to check it's you making any payments.

Does the tube charge you twice?

When you use contactless or Oyster to pay as you go, there is a maximum amount of time that you can spend making a single journey on Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail. If you spend longer than the maximum journey time for your journey, you could be charged 2 maximum fares.

Will I be charged if I tap in and out at the same station?

Same station exits

If you touch in when you enter a station, and then touch out to exit it within a short period of time, you'll be charged a same station exit charge.

How do you use the London tube for the first time?

The easiest and quickest way to travel on the London underground is to use a contactless card. You are now able to tap your card at the entrance gates to every tube station and again at the gates at the station you exit. Purchasing tickets and travel cards will also enable you to access London's transportation network.

What is the tube etiquette in London?

Is there an app for London Tube?

TfL Go app - Maps, routes and more to plan your journey - Transport for London.